Post-operative antibiotic coverage in gastro-intestinal and biliary surgery

ABSTRACT

The effect of post-operative antibiotics on wound infection is studied in a prospective clinical trial. Four commonly used antibiotic regimens were used on patients undergoing surgical operations on the G.I.T. and biliary system. 230 patients were included and the results compared with a control group. The regimens used were Cephalothin, Ampicillin with Cloxacillin, Gentamycin, and Gentamycin with Metronidazole. There were 122 males and 108 females. Age ranged between 4 and 80 years with an average of 45 years. The total wound infection rate of antibiotic group was 7.7% compared to 8.1% of the control, which was not statistically significant [P>0.05]. Biliary operations were associated with more wound infections than G.I.T. operations. In all 72% of wound infections were minor in degree, and 50% were delayed in onset. In conclusion antibiotics given post-operatively have no true benefit in reducing the incidence of wound infection